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Mission Services of London needs backpacks

Shelley Stewart, a program supervisor at Rotholme Women’s and Family Shelter (left), and Mariana Karatzas, a case worker, prepare a backpack with school supplies for a local family. Mission Services of London is still collecting much-needed backpacks and school supplies for families staying at the Rotholme shelter. (CHRIS MONTANINI, Londoner)

The first day of school brings a mix of excitement and trepidation for most students.

It’s great to see friends again, get back into routine, share curiosity about the new teacher, and buy some new gear. But for about 50 students whose families are currently staying at Mission Services of London, a new backpack and all the cool stuff inside are not going to happen without help from the community.

“We are trying to partner with the community to solve a problem,” said Connie Spuria, the communications/PR manager for Mission Services. “A problem people can relate to.”

Outfitting these students at both the elementary and secondary levels is a cause everyone can understand. Mission Services started the backpack campaign in 2012 because the need to supply students kept arising, said Spuria.

Last year, they collected 100 backpacks filled with school supplies. Sometimes they receive donations throughout the year, which they store until needed.

“The need is always going to be here,” said Spuria. “We have kids coming to us all the time. We may get a family of eight in December and they need to send their kids to school.”

Rotholme Women’s and Family Shelter can accommodate about 20 families at one time, and the normal length of stay is 30 days. Currently the shelter is at capacity and there are a few less than 40 elementary-aged students, and eight secondary-aged.

Spuria said if the family is from outside of Canada, they may not be accustomed to specific school requirements, such as indoor and outdoor shoes.

“Suddenly they have a need they are not used to,” she explained. “Their primary concern is finding housing. We try to help where we can. As a parent with kids, I know shoes are really expensive.”

Spuria said staying at the shelter is disruptive for a family, more so for teenagers than younger children. While it may be fun to shop for “cutesy backpacks,” think about the teens that need one for high school, too. Shoes with non-marking soles (or a gift certificate to a shoe store), geometry sets, and science calculators are also welcome additions to their supplies. All ages can use lunch bags.

“We’d like to thank the community,” said Spuria. “We are grateful for the way they have responded in the past. For example, a teacher dropped off bags of peanut-free snacks because she knew children need snacks.”

To make going back to school easier for students already in a difficult situation, here are the priorities for donations to Mission Services.

What to donate:

Backpacks, JK to high school

Lunch bags, JK to high school

Water bottles, JK to high school

Combination locks, high school

Scientific calculators, high school

Pencil Cases, JK to high school

Supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, pencil crayons, pencil sharpeners, markers, highlighters, lined notebooks for JK to high school